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If a photo of the GM Workbench ordering system proprietary to Chevy dealers is correct, next-generation Chevrolet Volt production is delayed in 39 states until February 2016.

We say “next-generation” Volt and not 2016, because it appears there will be no 2016 model year at all made available to buyers outside of 11 states that follow emissions rules set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

This story began when certain known Volt-supporting dealers expressed disappointment on Facebook over short supplies of 2016s this fall, and a delay for most of the country to next year. Initially GM-Volt.com’s head moderator dismissed the story as unreliable, but this image changed things, and it does lend credibility to the belief that GM has quietly revised its plans for reasons known only to itself. Click image to enlarge.

Production for California buyers of the 2016 model year Volt did begin August, and production of 2016s will begin for 10 other California-rules states around late October, but the rest of the country may now be on hold until winter/early spring 2016.

We have reached out to several GM reps, and none have replied, but the image appears authentic, would not easily be faked, and if things are as shown, this is an unusual move, and a change of plans.

Previously 2016 model year Volts were to be produced for the 39 non-CARB states in November for a nationwide roll-out this fall. It seems GM has nixed the 2016 altogether for most of the country before it even begins, and is jumping early to 2017.

Customarily Volt model year changeover at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant happens around summertime, so this unconfirmed state of affairs has members on the GM-Volt forum speculating about what it could mean.

This timeline posted May and from the same online Chevy dealer ordering system shows different plans. The entire U.S. was slated to receive 2016 model year Volts before the end of the year. DSOP is Dealer Standard Ordering Practice. Consensus is the term applied to the agreed upon allocation of cars for a specific dealer based on previous sales, adjusted daily/weekly supply numbers, and other factors. Unknown is how this may affect Canada. Image courtesy: Inside EVs.

Has GM found problems with the 2016 in any way? Why would it utterly bypass production of a 2016 that 11 states get and proceed several months early to 2017 model year production?

One would assume there are no meaningful problems, or it would not deliver to the 11 CARB states, so questions remain.

One thing is known, not a problem per se, but the car’s gas engine will initially be made in Mexico, and a changeover to Flint operations for U.S. production was previously announced for the next model year. Does GM simply want to cut clean and go to more U.S. content? Does it have other internal considerations?

If we learn more, we can update this.

But as of now, the 11 states that will get the 2016 model year Volt as planned are California, Connecticut, Massachussetts, Maryland , Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

All other states appear postponed until February or March, and these will be 2017 model year cars.

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